# Replacing A/C compressor in 98 Civic **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** honda\ **Created:** [July 5, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-a-c-compressor-in-98-civic/73383 "2012-07-05T15:55:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zinger1214](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/87869e/32.png) [@Zinger1214](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Zinger1214)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-a-c-compressor-in-98-civic/73383/1 "2012-07-05T15:55:12Z")
I have a 98 Honda Civic. The A/C compressor was bad (the clutch froze up). I replaced it with a compressor that I got out of a 92 Civic. The compressors seem to be virtually identical. Before I make the final connections and start it up, I need to figure out what kind of oil to put into the compressor (I dumped the old oil out so I could put in new oil). I have a bottle of PAG 46 oil. Here is my question: In researching the type of oil, I found out that in 1992 the A/C system used R-12 (and thus mineral oil in the compressor?). Will I have any compatibility issues with the PAG oil if I don’t first flush the compressor somehow? Will this compressor create any issues with the system of my 98 Civic? In other words, is there any reason I can’t just fill the 92 compressor with PAG 46 oil, connect everything, charge the system with r134 and be good to go? Or am I risking a major problem by doing that? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-a-c-compressor-in-98-civic/73383/2 "2012-07-05T20:13:21Z")
If I were doing this compressor swap, instead of using PAG oil I would use ester oil. PAG oil is used only in R134a AC systems. But ester oil can be used in both R12 and R134a AC systems. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Zinger1214](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/87869e/32.png) [@Zinger1214](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Zinger1214)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-a-c-compressor-in-98-civic/73383/3 "2012-07-05T20:40:55Z")
Ok - thanks! At Autozone I only saw ester oil in a medium viscosity as opposed to the low viscosity of the PAG 46. Do you think that’s a problem? I could probably hunt around for a lower viscosity of the ester oil. Thanks again for the tip!